What restrictions have the Taliban imposed in Afghanistan this year?

AFGHANISTAN'S internet and mobile telephone services were down nationwide on Tuesday, and while the Taliban administration offered no immediate explanation, in recent weeks it has voiced concern about pornography online.

AI Brief

Taliban banned internet in northern provinces to curb "immoral activities" but allowed cellphone data.
Books by women and courses on democracy and human rights were removed from universities.
Female aid workers still face travel and work restrictions despite urgent humanitarian needs.

The Taliban's restrictions on women and freedom of expression have drawn criticism from rights groups and foreign governments since the former insurgents resumed control of Afghanistan in 2021. Here are some other actions the Taliban has taken this year.

BAN ON INTERNET

On September 17, the Taliban administration announced an internet ban across a swathe of northern Afghanistan "to prevent immoral activities". The ban covers five provinces - Kunduz, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Takhar and Balkh - and includes the region's main population centres.

The Taliban said the ban did not cover cellphone data.

REMOVAL OF SOME BOOKS WRITTEN BY WOMEN

This month, the Taliban also began purging books written by women from the country's universities, the New York Times reported.

Along with the book ban, which the Taliban said was in accordance with sharia law, it also instructed universities to drop 18 courses on democracy, human rights and women's studies, the report said.

BAN ON CHESS

In May this year, the Taliban banned chess, citing fears that it was giving rise to gambling, which it considers a vice.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) said it regretted the decision and that the ban would harm the development of the sport and deny opportunities for Afghan players to showcase their talent.

RESTRICTIONS ON FEMALE AID WORKERS

This month, the World Health Organization asked Taliban authorities to lift restrictions on Afghan female aid workers, to allow them to travel without male guardians and help women struggling to access care after two powerful earthquakes killed 2,200 people in the eastern part of the country.

There was no change to the policy.

The Taliban ordered Afghan female NGO staff to stop working outside the home in 2022.